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Music once again in Sonando en Cuba

Another season of Sonando en Cuba musical contest is once more on the air by Cubavision TV channel. It started last August 7, one of the novelties of this new edition is that it is also simulcasted by Radio Taino, the FM of Cuba.

23 de agosto de 2016 -
Gabdiel Silva

Another season of Sonando en Cuba musical contest is once more on the air by Cubavision TV channel. It started last August 7, one of the novelties of this new edition is that it is also simulcasted by Radio Taino, the FM of Cuba.

Its young producer, Manuel Ortega, is the program general director of this project aiming, this time, at searching and promoting new young talents for the Cuban music scene .

Being an original idea of Paulo FG, who is also its artistic director, the musical contest consists of 13 broadcasts -two of them already seen by the Cuban audiences, the three first ones recorded on the Abdala studios, and the remaining 10 will be live programs that'll take place at the Astral theater in Havana..

-Manuel, what differentiates this new season of Sonando en Cuba from the previous one?

“One of the differences is that we have people from the three Cuban regions (east, center and west). Each of these regions has 8 competitors led by a coach; for example, Paulo FG is the coach of the eastern region, while Haila Mompie leads the central and Mayito Rivera the western. Every participant has the possibility of wishing the eight competitors the best not only as an artist but also as a person.

“On the other hand, the three coaches have the responsibility to train the participants, but, at the same time, they will evaluate them, discard the bad ones and select the best ones”.

- What about the audience?

“The audience will vote in favor or discard each of the participants.

At the end of the contest, there will be a winner or finalist by region and, hence, a unique winner.

As I told you, Sonando en Cuba will be aired live from the fourth program, as the audience -in our view- is a key and important element.

In addition, we want to feedback each week from them. Their opinions, what they think what is going on at the competition is a way of participating in the program's decisions”.

- How was the screening process and how good are the participants of the different regions?

“The casting was a hard process. We had many people from across the country, and the process took place in three provinces: Granma, in the eastern region; Villa Clara in the central, an Havana, in the western.

“The quality of the competitors is very high. Saying now who may be the winner or get into the finals is very complex… There is too much talent, and one of the most interesting things of Sonando en Cuba is that all its competitors will be performing live”.

- As regards to the first season, this second edition won in more musical genres… “That's right. It is very important to say that. The first edition was only devoted to son and salsa. But this year, we have included all genres of the Cuban music, with authors belonging to different generations. It is one-hundred percent Cuban music”.

- Do you have guest artists?

“Some will be involved in the opening of the shows, while others will have the chance of working and collaborating with the participants in some of the song themes prepared for each program”.

According to Manuel Ortega “each show will contain one-hundred percent Cuban music, with old arrangements brought to modern styles and more contemporary sounds, in order to attract the younger ones, and make that this new generation keeps on listening the music which has identified us in all ages, both, in Cuba and abroad”.

Last, but not least, Manuel said in advance that the third edition of Sonando de Cuba will have a worldwide nature, which will include nations from Latin America. The competitions will start next August 28, with totally live broadcasts from the stage of Havana's Astral theater.